“Under the gun” is a common poker term for the player who acts first in a betting round, most often in a full-ring or nine-handed game after the blinds have been posted. The position is significant because the “under the gun” player must act with less information than players who bet later in the round. That typically affects how the position is played, with many guides describing it as a tougher spot in which players must balance the strength of their starting hands against the disadvantage of acting earlier.
Across poker strategy guides, “under the gun” is also treated as a reference point for understanding other positions, since later seats are often described relative to it (for example, moving around the table to positions that act after or before it). While exact strategic recommendations can vary by game format and variant, the core idea remains consistent: under the gun is an early position with higher informational disadvantage, shaping decisions from the first action onward.
